In the far southwest corner of Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park sits beneath its veil of low-lying cloud, shrouded in mystery, an ancient land untouched by the passage of time. On the outskirts of this forest, the construction of Erebero Hills is slowly taking shape.
Erebero Hills
Erebero Hills will be situated on the northern edges of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, facing south with views over the rolling green treetop canopy. Home to half the world’s population of mountain gorillas, this is a destination steeped in adventure. While the primary activity, and the main attraction for most guests, will be gorilla trekking through this ancient forest, there will also be a number of cultural initiatives available for guests to enjoy. From tree planting to syntropic farming, and from honey production to basket weaving, each activity is not only providing insight into a different culture, but also helping to provide local communities with a sustainable income where there was previously none.
Sustainability
Sustainability sits at the core of Asilia’s ethos. Every decision and undertaking is rooted in making a positive impact to wildlife, communities, and the landscapes of East Africa. Erebero Hills is no different, offering support to the local people and surrounding land alongside the creation of a number of employment opportunities. Even in the construction of the lodge itself, we have looked to support local industry through the extensive use of locally sourced bamboo, and to build using sustainable methods. One of the more obscure sustainable initiatives employed in the creation of this new lodge, is the use of CoolBricks for the building of the staff quarters, kitchen, and back of house environment.
What are CoolBricks?
Stemming from original building practices, CoolBricks are a revolutionary form of alternative to the traditional fired brick. Rooted in sustainability, CoolBricks are made from mud and cow-dung, with the addition of biopolymers to help set the brick. The mixture is compressed under 15 kilotons of pressure into the brick shape, then set aside to dry naturally in the sun. The advantages of a CoolBrick over a traditional fired brick are numerous. For starters, the composition of the brick is natural, meaning that at the end of its life the brick can be broken down and recycled into new CoolBricks, or returned to the earth without concern for the environment. Additionally, a CoolBrick is allowed to air-dry naturally. In contrast, a fired brick requires a kiln heated to over 1000 degrees Celsius in order to ensure the strength and durability requirements are met. This change to the production process greatly reduces the carbon emissions, making a CoolBrick considerably friendlier to the environment. Lastly, a CoolBrick is approximately 30% wider than a standard brick, creating improved insulation properties in both cool and warm weather.
Whilst spending time in East Africa, Emile Smeenk (founder of CoolBricks) recognised a recurring and problematic methodology used for the local production of bricks. Clay was being harvested from unprotected wetland areas and mixed with high concentrations of cement to create bricks. Trees from nearby forests were then cut, creating stacks of wood to be burnt over the newly formed bricks for a couple of days in an attempt to fire them. The end result produces a poor-quality brick in terms of both shape and strength, requiring extreme amounts of cement to hold structures together. More alarming is that wetlands are being pillaged, trees are being cut down, and carbon is being pushed into the air through the burning process. After 5-years of research and development through the Delft University of Technology, a formula has been perfected for CoolBricks, offering a sustainable alternative that is stronger, cheaper, and (crucially) produces 90% less carbon emissions than fired bricks.
On site at Erebero Hills
For Erebero Hills, the bricks are produced on site, using earth removed during the foundation process, further reducing the production of carbon emissions as the transportation requirements are nullified. However, there have been some challenges to the process. The varying soil types of the landscape meant that the composition of the bricks was frequently changing, resulting in a lengthy testing process to ensure all bricks were mixed with the correct ratios required for them to dry and set. Additionally, the humidity of the area created some challenges as the bricks took longer to dry. While this caused some initial delays to the process, a step up in production helped to create the necessary buffer, allowing sufficient time for the bricks to set ahead of construction.
While still a new initiative, Emile hopes to be able to encourage a shift away from fired bricks back towards the traditional methods of employing local materials for construction, resulting in both sustainable and affordable housing. In our goal to be a sustainable and impact positive tourism operator, CoolBricks perfectly aligns as an obvious building partner in the development of Erebero Hills.
Opening in 2026, Erebero Hills has been designed for style and luxury, offering uninterrupted views of the forest across the valley from 8 spacious, glass-fronted suites. Contact us today to start planning your adventure into the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
